Monday, December 1st, 2014 - Christie’s online-only sale of Vintage Posters and Photographs "The Art of the Pin-Up" is left 3 more days to close, available exclusively at www.Christies.com/PinUps begun on 24 November and goes through the 3rd December 2014. The auction charts the history of the use of the female and male forms in advertising posters and photography throughout the 20th century with themes which include Bathing Beauties, Fashion & Advertising and Hollywood Pin-Ups. The sale features more than 70 lots with starting bids ranging from £300 up to £7,000. Whether as a Christmas gift or a memento of an age of glamour and playfulness, this auction presents a unique opportunity to acquire an original pin-up and a piece of advertising history, the influence of which continues to this day. The early history of advertising posters, for seaside resorts through to food and drink, was filled with bathing beauties and glamorous girls, whilst celebrated fashion illustrator Rene Gruau’s posters depicted chic men and women that modernised the image of French fashion, for brands such as Blizzand and Dior. These images, which were to become instantly recognisable across the world, depicted a sophisticated and liberated lifestyle. In photography, Bernard of Hollywood remains the most recognisable photographer of the ‘pin-up’ genre. Credited with discovering Norma Jean, his aesthetic continues to be emulated to this day. In this sale Marilyn Monroe, arguably the most celebrated pin-up, is portrayed by photographers Tom Kelley and Andre de Dienes who, like Bernard of Hollywood, contributed to Monroe’s meteoric rise to stardom through their depiction of her eternal sex appeal.
Bidding opened on 24 November 2014, 3:00pm GMT/10:00am EST, and starts to close 3 December 2014, 3:00pm GMT/10:00am EST. Find out more HERE.